Terry loop fabric knitting machine



July 14, 1931. H. M ADAMs 1,814,944

TERRY LOOP FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1929 -5 Sheets-Sheet 1 T Han-1 1 M Adam-15.

gwoemtoz 4 July 14; 1931.

H. M A DAMS" TERRY LOOP FABRIC KNI'IZTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31. 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 IN V EN TOR.

ATTORNEY July 14, 1931. H. M ADAMS 1,314,944

TERRY LOOP FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 51, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Har'P M Adam-1'5.

IN VEN TOR.

BY WKM ATTORNEY July 14, 1931. H. McADA s 1,814,944

TERRY LOOP FABRIC KNITTING MACHINE Filed Dec. 31, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 i 1 I l i I Zw E.

Patented July 14, 1931 V STATES PATENT OFFICE HARRY McADAlVIS, "or ATLANTIC CITY, NEW JERSEY TERRY LOOP RABRIc KNIT-Tine MACHINE Application. filed December 31, 1929. Serial No; 417,712.

Theinvention relates to improvements in With all of the, yarn introducing Wheels knitting machines particularly Well adapted arranged at one side of the needle line. for the knitting of terry loop fabrics. A further object of this invention is the The primary object of this invention is provision of improved means to expedite the provision of an improved knitting ma and facilitate the support of relatively long chine and associated apparatus, which is projected terry looping yarns upon the neeadapted to economically knit terry loop dles of a knitting machine or cylinder, prior fabric consisting of a base knitted Web havto or during the introduction thereof to ing relatively long and prominently projectthe fabric.

ing terry loops on both sides thereof; the A further object of this invention is the 60 improvement consisting in means to practiprovision of an improved terry loop knitted cally knit and arrange the terry yarn or fabric.

yarns in the base knitted Web in such man- Other objects and advantages of this inner that While providing relatively long and vention Wlll be apparent during the course I 4 prominently projecting terry loops, yet the of the following detailed description. 65

terry looping yarn Will be fastened in an In theaccompanying drawings, forming efficient anddurable relationship upon the a part of this: specification, and wherein base knitted Web, to prevent the unravelsimilar reference characters designate cor ing thereof during use. With prior terry responding parts throughout the several loop knitted fabrics, adapted more .particuvlevvs, 7o larly for Washrags, toweling, and the like, Flgure 1 1s a plan vlew of the knitting it was found to be a relatively difficult mach1ne,show1ng more particularly the ar procedure to afiix the terry loop knitting. rangement of the yarn and fabric cooperatyarns to the base fabric, so as to prevent the ing burs and parts with respect to the I unraveling thereof during use, and at the needle arrangement upon the cylinder. 75 same time provide relatively long and Figures 2; and 8 are views, on a developed prominently projecting terry loops in the plane, showing details foreffectlng the knit finished product. This fact, combined with tlng of a base fabric and the introduction of the fact that for a high quality pr d t it a terry looping yarn for substantially onei necessary t k it th b yarn tit h s half of the knitting operation, that 1s, the 80 close together p j the terry loops substantial completion of the knltting of so therethrough so close together that the base ll u p base knltted Web l 1 yarn Will be entirely hidden in the finished F1011 bherewlth I the terry1 looplng .V product, has caused manufacturers to ex 13 necessary to i w t E terry looljlng pend enormous sums of money in an en-' upon ig 01 gfi .sldlelpi the 85 deavor to perfect a quality product. This 1 asyposl 3 9 9 8 p. P Fi ures 4i and o are views SllOWlH parts lnventlon comprehends the provislon of a 1 V successively operating upon the fabric, in mecnainsm Which-W111 enable the efliclent a developed plane Showmg the apparatus 40 and .ec0n0ml9a1 productlon such type of for the knitting of terry loop fabric, for the 90 fabnc wherein h teniy looplng f are introducing, knitting, and looping of a seclocked by stltchlng With the base knltted 0nd knitting yarn a a Second terry yarn so as to P the unravellng h for the production of loops upon the inner Without Sacrificing lengths in the terry side of the fabric, as positioned upon the loops. I r machine. i v

A further object of this invention consists Fi 6 i a fra entary sectional view in the provision of improved means to en-, taken on a vertical plane through a terry able the practical manufacture of terry loop loop introducing Wheel, showing the .sinkers knitted fabric, Witl1 the'loops projected on thereof cooperating with the needles of the both sides of a single base knitted Web, cylinder of the machine, the view belng taken 00 fabric.

substantially on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a fragmentary view partly in section, showing the sinker arrangement of the terry loop forming wheel in its looping relation with the needles of the knitting machine cylinder.

Figures 8, 9, 10 and 11 are respectively. cross sectional views takenv on their. respec-. tive lines in Figures 2, 3 and 5 of the drawings.

Figures 12, 13 and 14 are views showing the blade arrangement ofcertain yar co,- operating wheels and burrs, the bladed'arrangement being diagrammatically. shown in developed planes.

Figure 15 ,is an enlarged, distorted, and, rather diagrammatic representation of the relation of the knitting yarns forming the stitched, loops. ofthe plain: base knitting, with respect to a pair of terry looping yarns, and with respectitoa weft yarn.

Figure. 16 isa sectional view-taken through. one of the. wales of the base knitted web, showing an enlarged, but substantially accurate. relation, astoreliative size, of the knitting and terry loop. forming yarns, and their relative association.

The improved knitting machine, must be considered in. connectionv with. my co-pend-. ing applications Serial No. lt8,849,. filed November 17,1926, Patent No. 1,800,092, and Serial N 0. 208,483, filed July 26, 1927, Patent No.'1,805,339.. The machine. of the. present invent-ion is. substantially identical with the. machines of those applications, except in-.

sofar asthe. arrangement of knitting, and fabric introducing. and; providing wheels, burrs, and parts are concerned. The. 1st ter. A may generally designate the improved knitting. machine, which may. include a .sup porting bed or frame 13-, having a rotary cylinder construction. O thereon. operativelydriven in any approved manner (not shown), such as shown in my above identified application, or otherwise, about a shaft D as an axis. Any approved fabric take.- up mechanism (not shown.) may be provided, adapted to cooperatewith the needlesof the cylinder C in the upwardv support. of the need not be illustrated on described. A modified and improved type of loop introducing wheel F is provided. for introducing the loops of a terry yarn? upon the needles for looping. at the outer. side of the fabric,

This .is a conventional feature which the top wall 26 which is integrally connected to the depending cylinder body 27. On the outer side of the cylinder body 27 the needle plates or segments 30 are arranged in usual relation, being held by detachable bolts 31, as more particularly shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, and the needles 82 are clamped. in: position upon the cylinder body by the plates or the segments 30, in well known relation. The needles are of the spring beard type, although they may be. of any. suitable type. In this type of machine the needles rotate with the cylinder (hand are non-reciprocable. The cylinder is of considerable diameter, so as to permit the knitting; of fabric of considerable width in the piece- The needles; are very closely spaced, so as-to enable the knitting of stitches or loops in the base knitting fabric, q ite closely together. This complicatesithe practicalproductionof quality type ofterry loop knitted fabric. ent invention but one series or set of the terry yarn, waft yarn, and stitch yarn controllingv wheels, burrs, and deviceshave been shown, and it isito. be. understood; that, any number of these setsor seriesmay, be pro,-

vided, as desired, consistent with, the size of the fabric knitted upon, the machine, that it, the diameter thereof'and the speed with;

which. the fabric is produced.

WVithin the circular line of knitting needles. 32 is provided a grooved top plate-41, which is,held,st-ationary, in theusual manner provided forv such, machines, as by being se cured to an, upstanding. sleeve shown at 40 in Figure: 1 of: the drawings, about, the. shaft.

D. Thisgrooved top plate supportsbrackets on standards which in turn support certainknitting; and yarn, controlling wheels, burrs, and; details to. be subsequently described. On the bed B, externally. and: concentrically about the needle. cylinder C, isprovided the conventional; grooved, back, stand ring 45,.

shown in plan a in Figure 1' and; in cross. section in Figure 6, which receives suitable stands or supports for the mountingof various burrs, bladed wheels, terry yarn looping wheels, and other details, as will be subsequently mentioned.

Prior to,a description of, the arrangement of knitting, wheels, burrs, and, details which control the yarns upon the machine it is thought best to describe the arrangement of the knittingy terry loop providing and weft yarns in the finished fabric K, which has been shown enlarged and rather distorted in Figures 15 and 16.

Referring first to the knitting of the base web, which has been designated generically byreference-letter H, the same is formed of knitting threads'or yarns 50.and 51, which. knit alternate courses. in the fabric, accord ing to the. arrangement which, has been. given theselnumeralsin Eigurel5 of the drawings. The knitting is the usual type of stocking knitting, with the knitted stitch loops arranged in wales. Thus the knitting yarns 50. in alternate horizontal courses provide the knit or stitch loops 52, which are of course inter-knitted with the knit loops or stitch loops 54 of the knitting yarn 51 in the remaining horizontal courses, as well shown in various views of the drawings. The fabric 15 as shown in the drawings is the outer side or face, and it is to be noted that on the side the bights of the stitch loops of the knitting yarns 50 and 51 occur, as do also the connecting portions between the adjacent loop stitches in each horizontal course. In thesame series of wheels used to introduce the base web knitting yarn 50 for the formation of loops 52 there is also introduced upon the needles in a cooperative relation with the loops 52 a terry looping yarn 60, which is adapted to form long and prominently extending terry loops at the outside of the fabric as it is formed upon the machine, that is, the face of the fabric of Figure 15 immediately facing the observer.

This terry looping yarn 60 is so arranged in the finished fabric that the cross portions 61 thereof extend closely across the outer sides of the stitch loops 52 of the base knitted web. It extends therefrom through the spaces between the stitch loops 52 to the normal inside of the base knitted web, extending about the inner side of the cross portions 63, forming part of the knitting yarn 50 and thence being turned through the spaces between the stitch loops 54 previously knitted of-the knitting yarn 51, and projected to the outer side of the base knitted web H in long prominently projecting loops 67 It is thus to be noted that the terry looping yarn 60 is caught at both sides of the base web and projected to the outer side of the terry loop knitted fabric in a relation which is shown in Figure 15 and also shown in Figure 16.

In the same formative operation wherein the terry loops 67 are provided upon the outer side of the fabric, a stretch preventing weft yarn 70 is applied in the fabric, which is so manipulated with respect to the knit ting and terry yarns upon the needles that the same extends across the outer side of alternate stitch loops 52 of the knitting yarn 50, in unlocked relation, not being tied therewith in any manner whatsoever, extending therefrom across the outer sides of the stitch loops 54 of the knitting yarn 51, but at the inner side of the knitting yarn 50 where the latter turns at the ends of its connecting portions 63 through the knitted loops 54 of the yarn 51. This locks the weft yarn 70 at locations 72 in alternate wales near the bights of the stitch loops 54. of the knitting yarn 51, the weft yarn being so arranged that the connecting portions 61 extend acrossthe adjacent portions of the'weft a semi-locked condition at the connecting portions of the terry yarn 60 between the loops 67 thereof, as will be apparent to any one skilled in this art, and as is shown in Figure 15. Due to the manner in which the knitting and terry loop yarns are introduced to provide a commercial fabric, the finished product will present a very crowded arrangement of yarns immediately at the base web, quite dissimilar to the loose ar rangement shown in Figures 15 and 16, which has been shown thus for purposes of clear understanding. I

lVhile the above described arrangement of terry loops -67 of the terry loop forming yarn 60 enables the terry yarn to be held fairly secure in the fabric, yet if an end forms on the fabric the same will ravel. To prevent this, it is preferred to knit in the terry loop yarn 60, on every alternate, every fourth, every fifth, every sixth, or every seventh needle. It is known that the knitting ofthe terry loop yarn with the knitted loops of the base web not only increases the bulk of the base web, without securing any superior results, but such knitting will result in the shortening of the terry loops in the finished product, which is a real detriment in a quality product. It must be borne in mind that terry loops of indefinite l ngth cannot be taken care of during a knitting operation, and in the provision of a quality product while the terry loops in the finished product should be relatively long, and secured to the base web so that they shall not unravel, yet due to the limited length in which they may be projected upon the neodles of the cylinder during the forming operation, a very large problem is provided. I have solved this problem by knittingin the terry loop yarn 60 with the loops 52 of the base web, upon every sixth needle in any horizontal course. This arrangement of knitting them in on every sixth needle has not been arbitrarily chosen, but has been found to-best meet the practical requirements, although I do not confine myself to the knitting on every sixth needle, but may choose to knit the terry yarn upon alternate needles, or in any arrangement short of knitting the terry yarn 60 in with the base fabric on every needle. As shown in Figure 15 of the drawings the terry looping yarn 60 is knitted in with the knitting loops 52 of the knitting yarn 50 to provide knitted loops 7 5 shown in the drawings; these knitted loops 7 5 of the terry loop forming yarn following exactly the introduction of the loops 52.

The second terry loop forming yarn is introduced upon the base knitted web to provide long prominently projecting terry loops 81 atthe inside face of the fabric, that is, the side of the fabric of Figure 15 facing away from the observer. This yarn 80 is -so introduced that its connecting portions 83 between the loops 81, extend across the outer faces of the knitted loops 52 of the knitting yarn 50, as shown in Figure 15, quite closely and snugly thereacross, and projecting through the spaces between the stitch loops 52. The positioning and arrangement of the terry'loop forming yarn S0 is simpler than for the arrangement of the terry loop forming yarn 60 above descri ed, and it is to be noted that the connecting portions between the loops 81 are not so well locked in with the base knitted web stitches. To compensate for this I propose to knit the terry loo-ping yarn 80 into the stitches 54 of the base knitted web, upon every third needle of the knitting machine. That is, in alternate horizontal courses the yarn 80 is knitted at 85 in with every thirt stitch loop 54: in that course, as shown in Figure 15. It is to be noted that these knitin loops 85 of the terry looping yarn 8O follow exactly about the stitch loops 54 of the knitting thread 51, and they project across the outer side of the stitch loops 52 and therebetween to provide the long prominently extending terry loops 81 at the inner face of the fabric. Of course, I do not restrict myself to the knitting in of the terry loop yarn 80 on every third needle, as this may be accomplished on alternate needles, or on any number of needles found to meet practical requirements.

Referrin to the apparatus for contr lling the yarns and fabric upon the needles, the various operating parts are shown in their relation to the needles in Figures 2 to 5 inclusive, and in the relation in which they are relatively supported upon the machine in Figure 1. Figures 2 and 3 show the relation of parts in the sequence of introducing the weft yarn 70, the stitch yarn 50 of the base web, and the terry looping yarn 60. The direction of rotation of the needles is shown by the arrows in Figures 2 and 3, and as shown to the extreme right of the needle arrangement in Figure 2, the stitch loops 54 hold the fabric K at the tops of the needles 32, with the stitch loops 54; beneath the beards of each of the needles. As the cylinder continues to rotate the fabric K comes into engagement with a fabric push down plate or foot 90, which is of course arranged at the inner periphery of the circular line of needles as shown in Figure 1, upon a suitable bracket 91 carried upon a standard 92 afiixed in the back stand ring 4-5, shown in Figure 1. This push down foot 90 pushes the fabric down at the inside of the circular line of needles until the stitch loops 5% of the knitting yarn 51 are near the top of the cylinder C, as shown in Figure 2. WVith the fabric and the stitch loops 5i held in this position, the needles 32 ride into intermeshing relation between the blades of ,a Weft or filler yarn introducing wheel 93, which is shaped to receive the-weft yarn from a suitable guide 94- and position it upon the needles, pushing it downwardly in front of alternate needles and to the rear or inner sides of the remaining needles, as is shown in Figure 2. The manner in which the wheel 93 performs this operation may best be understood from Figures 8 and 12 of the drawings. In Figure 12 of the drawings is shown the bladed arrangement of the wheel 93, showing that alternate-spaces 95 between the blades 96 of the wheel'93 are unobstructed, and the remaining spaces have presser lugs 97 therein. As shown in Figure 8' of the drawings, the presser lugs 97 coming into engagement with the front of alternate needles push those needles out of the normal circular alignment, as shown for the needle in Figure 8, and the other needles of course ride in the spaces 95 and are not pushed out of alignment. The annular groove formed by the blades 96 receives the weft yarn '70 as shown in Figure 8, and pushes the weft yarn downwardly in front of those needles 32a which have been bent out of normal line and throw the yarn 70 back of those needles 32 which have not been bent out of line. This figure also shows the pressure foot 90 holding the fabric K, and more particularly the stitch loops 5d were anchored upon the needles 32, at the base of the needles, at the top of the cylinder C.

A clearing wheel 98, in bladed mesh with the needles 82, upon the cylinder, pushes the weft yarn 7O farther down upon the needles towards the top of the cylinder C. This clearing wheel 98 is of the usual type, and is mounted upon one of the adjustable stands 99 conventionally provided on circular knitting machines of the united needle type, being detach-ably and adjustably supported upon the back stand ring 45, as shown in Figure 1. At this place the fabric K is still held down upon the needles 32, pref erably by means of a second push down cam or foot 100, which is shown in Figures 1 and 2 of the drawings, and which may be supported by an arm 101 carried upon a suitable stand 102 attached in the back stand ring 45. If found desirable the push down cams 90 and 100 may be of one piece.

Succeeding the lowering of the weft or tiller yarn 70 upon the needles at the clearing wheel 98, the needles 32 ride into intermeshing relation between the blades of a conventional stitch wheel or burr 105, which is arranged to receive the first'knitting yarn 50 of the base knitted web from a conventional guide 106 and throw the same high upon the needles 82 beneath the beards of each of said needles 32, as is shown in F igure' 2 at the left hand end of the needle arrangement, and for the major length of the needle line shown in Figure 3. It should be particularly noted that at this place the fabric K where it connects at the stitch loops 54 upon the needles 32 is still held far down on the needles near the top of the cylinder C, as is also the Weft or filler yarn 70. The stitch wheel 105 together with its guide 106 may be supported upon a conventional adjustable stand 107 carried in the usual manner adjustably and detachably upon the back stand ring 45, as shown in plan in Figure 1. Succeeding the stitch wheel 105 in the direction of cylinder rotafunction of serving as a shaft for the sinker wheel F which introduces the first terry loop yarn 60 upon and between the needles The wheel F is of substantially the same construction as that shown in my co-pending application, Serial No. 208,483, above referred to, as improved in my U. S. Patent 1,787,010 and embodies certain improvements thereover in the relation in which the sinkers are introduced between and with respect to the needles. The wheel generally includes a rotatable wheel body 115 having a hub portion 116 bearing upon the vertical shaft or standard 112. The wheel F at its outer periphery is provided with teeth 117 intermeshing in the spaces between the needles 32 at the base of the latter near the top of the cylinder C, which gears the wheel 115 for rotation with the cylinder. On the top surface of the wheel body 115 is provided a circular or ring-shaped raised portion having exposed slots 118 therein. It is to be noted that the wheel F is arranged at the outer side of the circular line of efficiently through the spaces between the needles 32 of the cylinder, for the introduction of long terry loops. Of course, as set forth in my application above mentioned, the grooves or slots 118 receive sinker or pusher members 119, the outer ends of which are kerfed to receive the terry looping yarn-'60, in the case of the wheel F, and the This terry 'loopingcyarn'80 in the case of the wheel G, for the purpose of pushing the same in long loops intojthe spaces between adjacent needles 32 on the cylinder. Another way of describing the line in which the sinkers slide with respect to the needles 32, is that each sinker is inclined ofi the radial so that its projecting end first approaches and passes through an imaginary straight line intersecting the axes of rotation of the cylinder C and wheel body 115.

The sinkers 119 are of well known type, being very fiat and having butts 120 facing upwardly which ride within a cam slot 121 provided in downwardly facing relation upon the cam cap 122; the latter being held stationary upon the shaft 112, by means of a set screw 123 or like expedient. A projecting cam 124 is provided to operate upon the butts 120 toproject the sinkers 119 through the spaces between the needles 32; the cam 124 being resiliently controlled at 125, as mentioned in my co-pending application above referred to.

The push-down cam 110 in addition to holding the fabric K, at its stitch loop connection 54 upon the needles 32 down at the base of the needles, as shown in Figure 6, serves also as a means of supporting a yieldable resistance pad 130, which is preferably of felt; rectangular in section, and fitting closely against the needles 32 at the inside of the needle line spaced just above the top of the cylinder C so as not to interfere with the connection of the fabric K with the needles 32. This pad prevents the long loops projected through the inside of the needle line from retracting upon withdrawal of the sinkers 119, and acts to render the loops of the terry yarn taut as the needle rotates, stretchingthem and fixing them in position upon the needles 32, and preventing thesag and withdrawal thereof, as has been found to occur without the use of such restraining means, where theloops of the terry yarn are suificiently'long to provide the quality procluct desired. This felt pad has been generally described in some of my above men-' tioned co-pending applications, and of course the sinkers 119 project directly thereinto and force the loops 67 of the terry looping yarn 60 therein, and in the case of the looping wheel G the terry loops 81 of the terry looping yarn 80 are forced into a similar pad or restraining means 132, as shown in Figure 1, and as subsequently will be mentioned. 2

It should be borne in mind that the pad 130 is of compressed felt, and it should be tightly held against the inside of the circular line of needles. To compensate for wear resilient means is provided to hold this pad 130 against theinsides of the needle line. A

preferred and simple arrangement is that of Supporting the pad 130 directly upon the I convex side of the pressing cam or foot 110, being secured at one end by means of 'a detachable belt or screw 135, which is countersunk at its head into the fabric 130, in the manner shown in Figure 7. This end of the pad 130 is of course rearwardly of the location where the terry looping yarn is first introduced in loops upon the needles 32 by means of the looping wheel. The bolt 135 also secures the leaf spring 136 in place at one end thereof; the leaf spring 136 being positioned between the pad 130 and the presser foot 110, and normally acting to force thepad 130 against the inside of the cylinder line-to accomplish the purposes above described. The pad or restraining means 130 is of sufficient length that the loops of the terry looping yarn become set upon the needles prior to moving past the end of the pad, so that they will hold their position substantially as shown in Figure 7 after leaving the pad. 7

Cooperating resiliently against the upper or free ends of the needles 32 there is provided a retaining spring 140, secured at its drawings that the presser foot 110 continues a considerable distance beyond the forward end of the pad 130, in order to hold the fabric K far down at its connection with the needles 32. The terry looping yarn 60 is introduced by the sinkers of the wheel F upon the needles 32- immediately below the open ends of the beards of said needles, and thereafter, but preferably before the loops 6'? ofthe terry loo-ping yarn 60 leave the pad 130, the terry looping yarn 60 is operated upon by a special combination lifting and presser wheel 150, which operates to lift the connecting portions of the terry looping yarn 60 upon the shanks of the needles, to

deposit some of said connecting. portions beneath the beards of certain spaced needles and over the beards of the remaining needles. This wheel 150 is rotatably. supported, as shown in Figure, 1 ofthe drawings upon a, suitable adjustable stand 151 secured to the back stand ring 45.. In the illustration it is preferred to arrange the wheel 150 so that it will press the beards of five successive needles closed, 1eaving thenext advjacent needle beard .open, pressing the next five successive needle beards closed, and continuing the operation, and at the same time lifting;the .t;erry looping yarn 60 asit has been introduced upon the needle 32 upon the needles so that on every sixth needle whose beard has been left open, the connecting portion will lie across the needle beneath the beard, while the connecting portions of the terry looping yarn 60 on the remaining needles are over the outer sides of the beards for a cast-off. In Figure 13 has been shown the pressing lug and bladed arrangement of the wheel 150, showing that in five successive spaces between the blades 155 there .are provided pressing lugs 156, and the next succeeding single spaces 157 have been left blank. In Figure 9 is'shown the manner in which the blades and pressing lugs of the wheel 150 cooperate with the needles 32; this particular view showing the pressing lug 156 holding the beard of the needle 32 closed and elevating the terry looping yarn 60 at the outside of the beard of the needle.

Succeeding the landing of the first=terry looping yarn 60 with respect to the beards f the needles 32, a bladed wheel or burr 160 operates to further elevate the terry looping yarn 60 upon the needles, to immediately below the top of the beards thereof, just below the first knittingyarn which is high on the needles beneath the beard of each needle. This Wheel 160 is similar to an ordinary stitch wheel, and it is supported upon a conventional adjustable stand 161 carried by the back stand ring 45. The purpose of elevating the first terry looping yarn is to permit the beards of the needles to be pressed closed by means of a plate presser 162, which-is disposed in a'plane immediately below the elevation towhich the terry looping yarn 60 has been elevated upon the needles, and which closes all of the beards of the needles at a location immediately at the point where-a landing wheel 164, disposed at the inside of the circular line of needles, operates to elevate the fabric where it is hung at the loops 54 upon the needles, together with the weft yarn 70. It is to be noted that the push down cam 110 terminates just prior to the time that the fabric rides into engagement with the landing wheel 164, at the location 165 shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. The

landing wheel 164 is of conventional form,

and its purpose of course is to lift the yarn loops as they lay upon the needles over the closed beards of the needles, above the free ends of the beards, as shown in Figure 3 of the drawings. This landing wheel 164 is supported upon a suitable adjustable bracket 164 which is carried inside of the circular line of needles 32 upon the grooved top plate 41, in the well known manner. A pair of cast-01f wheels 167, operating at the inner periphery of the circular line of needles elevate the fabric where it is caught upon the needles, to accomplish the knitting of the stitching yarn 50 in with the fabric loops 54, and to place the weft yarn and ferry looping yarn 60 in looped and knitted relation with respect to the knitting yarn 50, as has been above described, and shown in Figure 15 of the drawings along those horizontal courses illustrating the knitting loops of the knitting yarn 50. It is to be observed, since the terry looping yarn was introduced upon the needles above the location where the fabric K is caught upon the needles, that the terry loops 67 will be thrown to the outside of the fabric as the same is knitted upon the machine, in the position in which the take-up mechanism elevates the same. This is also shown in Figure 15. The cast-off wheels 167 are supported upon suitable brackets 170 carried on the grooved portion of the groove plates 41 within the circular line of knittingneedles.

Referring to the cycle in which the second stitch yarn 51 of the base web is knitted, and to the introduction of the second terry looping yarn 80, as shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, with the loops 52 of the stitch yarn 50 hung high beneath the beards of each of the needles, the fabric is held in a connected relation at the tops of the needles, as shown in Figure 4. The terry looping yarn is next introduced by means of the looping wheel G uponthe needles 82 and looped through the spaces between adjacent needles in exactly the same manner as that above described for the wheel F. It is to be understood that the looping wheel G is of the same constructionas the wheel F, including the same types of sinkers and operating mechanism, and that it introduces the second terry looping yarn 80 in the position shown in Figure 4 between the needles and upon the needles; introducing the loops into a felt pad 1820f the same nature and characteristics as the pad 130 above described. For the wheel G, however, the pad 132 is carried by anarcuate bracket arm 175, supported upon a-suitable standard 176 carried upon the groove portion of the plate 41 at the inside of the circular line of needles. This is necessary due to the fact that the fabric is hung high upon the needles and extends therefrom to the take-up mechanism which is ordinarily above the machine. However, in the case of the'looping' wheel F, it should be noted that the pad 130 is supportedfrom the arm 111 which extends forgits mounting to the outside of the cireular line of needles, inasmuch as the fabric is held down low upon the needles at that operation. The felt pad or yieldable restraining means 132 is supported by a detachable screw 177, upon the arm 175, similar to the support of the pad 130 above described, and aleaf spring 179 operates thereagainst to normally urge the pad against the needles to compensate for wear, in the position shown in Figure 1. 'Of course only one'endof the leaf spring 17 9 is mount ed upon the bracket arm 175, as by the screw 177 above mentioned. It is to be noted from Figure 4 that the terry looping yarn 80 is introduced with its long prominent loops into the pad 132 at a location below the beards of the needles. Prior to riding of the loops 81 off the restraining pad 132, the terry looping yarn 80 is operated upon by a combination landing and pressing wheel 180, shown in Figure 4 of the drawings, which performs a function similar to the wheel 150 above described. This wheel 180 lifts the terry looping yarn 80 upon the needles, casting some of the connecting portions between the loops over the outsides of the beards, and others beneath the beards. A preferred arrangement of the wheel 180 is shown in the fragmentary developed plane portion illustrated in Figure 14 of the drawings, wherein it is shown that every third space 181 between the blades 182 is unoccupied, and the pairs of intervening spaces have presser lugs 183 therein which cooperate to press the beards of the needles closed prior to the lifting of the terry looping yarn 80 thereover, for the purpose of lifting the terry looping yarn 80 to the outer sides of those beards of the needles which the presser lugs 188 engage; the terry looping yarn 80 of course being thrown beneath the open beards of those needles which pass through the spaces 181, as will be quite apparent to anyone skilled in this art. It is thus apparent from Figure 4, that succeeding the wheel 180, the terry looping yarn is beneath the beard of every third needle, and the fabric is hung high beneath the beard of the needle below the stitches 52. The wheel 180 is preferably supported upon an adjustable stand 185, shown in Figure 1, as mounted upon the back stand ring 45. i

It should be remembered that the long terry loops 81 are projected to theinside of the circular line of knitting needles, and to prevent the falling of the same downwardly too far upon the needles, and to decrease the likelihood of their falling below the beards of the needles, it is preferred to provide one or more clearing wheels 190, located at the inner side of the needle line, and preferably mounted upon suitable brackets 191 carried upon the groove portion of the plate 41. The number and arrangement of the clearing wheels 190 of course depends entirely upon the spaced relation between the cooperating wheels and parts on the needle line at opposite sides thereof. Their function as shown in Figure 4 consists in mainly lifting the terry looping yarn 80 high upon the needles to a safe degree. I

It should be remembered that the fabric K is still hung high upon the needles; the stitch loops 52 being caught beneath the beards thereof, and that the terry looping yarn 80 is disposed: on the needles immediately therebelow. As shown at the right hand end of Figure 5 a burr or wheel 200, which may consist of a usual stitch wheel, operates upon the bearded ends of the needles 32, high thereon, being rotatably supported in this position by means of an adjustable stand 201 carried on the back stand ring 45, as shown in Figure 1. The function of this wheel 200 is to throw the bight portion of the terry looping yarn 80 caught around the outer sides of the pairs of needles 32 which have been previously operated upon by the presser lug 183 of the wheel 180 over the top of the needles and across the loops 52 caught on the respective needles. .In cooperation with the wheel 200, an end 202 of a push down cam or foot 203 operates on the fabric to lower the same behind the needles. It is of course understood that the blades of the wheel 200 push the loops and the connecting portions of said loops into the spaces between the stitch loops 52 caught on adjacent needles, forcing them into the position shown in the finished fabric in Figure 15, at the inside face of the fabric as it is caught by the take-up mechanism and held upon the machine. It is to be noted, however, that upon every third needle the terry looping yarn 80 is caught beneath the beards, and of course the wheel 200 will not clear the terry looping yarn from these needles; its function being mainlyto cast from the needles 32 the terry looping yarn 80 which is not intended to be knitted into the base web, at those needles 32 pressed by the lugs 183 as above described.

The push down cam 203 of course lowers the fabric K upon the needles, down below the beards thereof to adjacent the top edge of the cylinder C, as shown in Figure 5. In Figure 11 is shown the manner in which the blades of the wheel 200 have accomplished the purpose of throwing over the terry looping yarn 80 high upon the needles 32; the particular needle shown being one of the third needles which receives the terry looping yarn beneath the open beard thereof.

The push down cam 203 holds the fabric at the stitch loop 52 down far at the base ends of the needles, together with the terry looping yarn 80, in the relation in which it has just been applied to the fabric; it being noted that every third needle has a terry looping yarn caught thereon, as indicated by the numerals 205 in Figure 5 of the drawings.

The second knitting yarn 51 of the base web is applied upon the needles 32 in the usual manner, by means of a stitch wheel 206; the yarn 51 being applied high beneath the beards of each of the needles, with the fabric held low upon the needles by means of the push down cam 203. The latter may of course be supported by any suitable arm or standard mechanism 207 carried adjustably upon the back stand ring 45, as shown in Figure 1, and the stitch wheel 206 may similarly be carried upon an adjustable stand 208 carried by the back stand ring 45, and supporting an ordinary yarn guide 209 from which the stitch wheel receives the stitching yarn 51 of the base web.

Subsequently the beards of the needles 32 are closed by the riding thereof against a plate or bar type of presser 211, shown in Figure 5 of the drawings, and which is positioned at the remote end of the push down cam 203. In a cooperative relation with the closing of the beards by the presser 211, a landing wheel 213, located at the inner side of the needle line, operates to lift the fabric K and the stitch loops 52 and terry looping yarn 80 caught upon the needles; all of the beards of the needles being held closed and the clearing wheel 213 lifting the yarns in the relation above described upward upon the needles and over the. beards thereof, as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings. Thereafter a pair of cast-off wheels 216 operating at the inner side of the circular line of needles cast-off the stitch loops 52 and the terry yarn 80 from the needles into a knitted and received relation upon the knitting yarn 51, to form the loops 54 which are caught beneath the beards of each of the needles 32.

The presser 211 is carried by a usual type of adjustable stand 220 mounted upon the back stand ring 45, and the landing wheel 213 and clearing wheels 216 are respectively carried by suitable brackets 221 and 222 mounted on the grooved portion of the plate 41 within the circular line of needles, as shown in Figure 1 of the drawings. Thereafter the cycle of operation is repeated, starting with the arrangement shown in Figure 2.

If desired, a clearing wheel 230, shown in dot and dash lines in Figure 5, and in full lines in Figure 1, may be supported immediately forwardly in the direction of cylinder rotation with respect to the wheel 200, for the purpose of clearing yarns during the lowering at the approach end of the push down cam 203, and which also assists in pre venting catching of the fabric upon the needles should a hole occur in the fabric at this location. It is supported by a conventional stand 231 carried upon the back stand ring 45.

In the example shown in Figure 15 the terry looping yarns and 80 are of preferably the same weight, appreciably greater than the weight of the knitting yarns 50 and 51 of the base web H. The filler yarn may or may not be as heavy as the terry looping yarns 60 and 80. To provide a quality product, the said terry looping yarns 60 and 80 must bear this relationto the base web knitting yarn.

It is within the contemplation of thisinvention to knit two ,or more terry looping yarns simultaneously upon the base web at either, or both of the wheels F and G. In practice I have found that high quality terry loop knitted fabric is provided by simultaneously knitting pairs of terry looping yarns for either or both inner and/or outer faces of the fabric. Such type of fabric has been made the subject matter of a related application, Serial N 0. 418,582 filed January 4, 1930.

Figure 16 shows approximately the relative length of loops of the terry looping yarns with respect to the stitch loops of the base knitted web. It is to be particularly noted that the terry loops in the finished product are each severaltimes the length of the stitch loops of the base web.

Various changes in the shape, size, andarrangement of parts may be made to the form of invention herein shown and described, without departing'from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine for producing terry loop knitted fabric having long prominently extending terry loops thereupon, the combination of a set of needles, means to knit a base web upon the needles, means cooperating with the needles to introduce upon the base Web during its formation a terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from one face of the base web, with the said terry looping yarn knitted in with certain definite relatively spaced knitted stitch loops at the base web in any course of the base in which said terry looping yarn is placed, and means cooperating with the needles to'introduce upon the base web a second terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from the face of the base Web opposite that upon which the first mentioned terry loops are projected, with the second terry looping yarn knitted in with certain definite relatively spaced knittedstitch loops in different courses of the base web than those courses in which the first mentioned terry looping yarn is introduced and'knitte'd. g M

2. In a'knitting machine for producing .terry loop knitted fabric having long prominently extending terry loops thereupon, the combination of a set of needles, means to knit a base web upon the needles, means cooperating with the needles to introduce upon the base web during its formation a terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from one face of the base web, means cooperating with the needles and application of the terry looping yarn thereto and with the base web to knit the said terry looping yarn in with relatively spaced knitted stitch loops of the base web in any given course in which the said terry loop is placed with a plurality of intervening stitch loops of the base web free of the knitting of the terry looping yarn therewith.

3. In a knitting machine for producing terry loop knitted fabric having long prominently extending terry loops thereupon, the combination of a set of needles, means to knit a base web upon the needles, means cooperating with the needles to introduce upon the base web during its formation a terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from one face of the base web,

means cooperating with the needles and application of the terry looping yarn thereto and with the base web to knit the said terry looping yarn in with relatively spaced knitted stitch loops of the base web in any given v course in which the said terry loop is placed with a plurality of intervening stitch loops of the base web free of the knitting of the 'terry looping yarn therewith, and means cooperating with the needles to introduce upon the base web a second terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from the face of the base web opposite that upon which the first mentioned terry loops are projected.

4, In a knitting machine for producing terry loop knitted fabric havinglong prominently extending terry loops thereupon, the combination of a set of needles, means to knit a base web upon the needles, means cooperating with the needles to introduce upon the base web during its formation a terry looping yarn in long prominently projectingloops from one face of the base web,

means cooperating with the needles and application of the terry looping yarn thereto and with the base web to knit the said terry looping yarn in with relatively spaced knitted stitch loops of the base web in any given course in which the said terry loop is placed with a' plurality of intervening stitch loops of the base web free of the knitting of the terry looping yarn therewith, means 'cooperating with the needles to introduce upon the base web a second terry looping yarn in. long prominently projecting loops from the face of the base web opposite that upon which the firstmentioned terry loops are projected, and means cooperating upon the needles with said second terry looping yarns and with the base web'to knit in the second terry yarn with certain definite relatively spaced knitted stitch loops of the base web in different courses of the base web than those courses in which the first mentioned terry looping yarn is knitted, with a plurality of intervening stitch loops of the knitting yarn therebetween free of the knitting of the second terry yarn therewith.

, 5 11i aknitting machine for producing terry 100p knitted fabric having long prom- 7 inently extending terry loops, the combina-.

tion of a set of needles, means to knit a base web upon the needles, means cooperating with the needles and with the base web to introduce upon the base web during its formation a terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from one face of the base web, the loops in length being each several times the length of each of the stitch loops of the base web, and means cooperating with the application of said terry looping yarn to the base web during the formation of the base web to knit said terry looping yarn in with only a few definite relatively spaced knitted stitch loops of the base web in any course of the base web wherein said terry looping yarn is placed.

6. In a knitting machine for producing terry loop knitted fabric having long prominently extended terry loops, the combination of a set of needles, meansto knit a base web upon the needles, means cooperating with the needles and with the base web to introduce upon the base web during its formation a terry looping yarn in long prominently projecting loops from one face of the base web, the loops in length being each several times the length of each of the stitch loops of the base web, means cooperating with the application of said terry looping yarn to the base web during the formation of the base web to knit said terry looping yarn in with only a few definite relatively spaced knitted stitch loops of the base web in any course of the base web wherein said terry looping yarn is placed, and means for so placing a weft yarn upon the fabric during the knitting of the base web and intro duction of the terry looping yarn that it will be considerably shorter in overall length than the overall length of either the stitch yarn or terry looping yarn in any course along which said weft yarn follows.

7. In a united needle knitting machine for producing terry loop knitted fabric having long prominently extending terry loops, the combination of a rotatable cylinder, a united needle set carried thereby, a series of wheels and devices for introducing a pair I" base web forming yarns upon the needles in knitting relation thereupon, means cooperating with the needles and said pair of knitting yarns to knit a base web upon the needles, means to introduce upon the needles in cooperative formation with the base web a pair of terry looping yarns for producing long prominently projecting terry loops uponboth sides of the base web as the latter is formed, and means associated with the last mentioned means for knitting the terry looping yarns in with only certain relatively spaced stitch loops of the base web during the formation of the latter.

8. In a knitting machine of the class described the combination of a rotatable cylinder having a united needle set thereon of the spring beard type, means operating upon the needles to introduce and knit thereupon a base knitted web comprising horizontal courses of lnitted stitch loops, means to in troduce upon the needles during the formation of alternate courses of the base web a terry loop yarn for the production of long terry loops at one side of the finished fabric, said last mentioned means having means associated therewith to knit with the stitch loops of the base web the said terry loop yarn on considerably less than one-half of the total number of stitch loops of the base yarn in any course in which said terry loop yarn is introduced and knitted, and means to introduce upon the needles and produce upon the base web a second terry'looping yarn having long prominently projecting terry loops at the other side of the finished fabric.

9. In a knitting machine of the class described the combination of a rotatable cylinder having a united needle set thereon of the spring beard type, means operating upon the needles to introduce and knit thereupon a base knitted web comprising horizontal courses of knitted stitch loops, means to introduce upon the needles during the formation of alternate courses of the base web a terry loop yarn for the production of long terry loops at one side of the finished fabric, said last mentioned means having means associated therewith to knit with the stitch loops of the base web the said terry loop yarn on considerably less than one-half of the total number of stitch loops of the base yarn in any course in which said terry loop yarn is introduced and knitted, means to introduce upon the needles and produce upon the base web a second terry looping yarn having long prominently projecting terry loops at the other side of the finished fabric, said second terry looping yarn being introduced in the remaining courses of the base web, and means associating with the last mentioned means for knitting in the second terry looping yarn with the stitch loops of the base web in considerably less than one-half of the total number of stitch loops in the course with which said second terry looping yarn. is associated.

10. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a rotatable cylinder having a circular line of knitting needles thereon, means to introduce upon the knitting needles for the production of a unitary fabric a pair of knitting yarns,-means operat ing upon the pair of knitting yarns upon the needles for the production of a base knitted web, means for introducing from exte'riorly of the circular line of knitting needles a pair of terry loopingyarns in a cooperative prominent loop projecting relation at both sides of the knitted base web with the loops of one yarn projecting at one side of the base web only and the loops of the other yarn projecting at the opposite side of the baseweb only, and means assoeiated with the last mentioned means for knitting in said respective terry looping yarns with less than one-half of the stitch loops of the-base web courses in which the yarns respectively appear.

11. In combination a'cylinder having a circular set of needles thereon, a base web fabric having stitch loops caught upon the needles, said needles being of the spring beard type, means to lower the stitch loops of the fabric caught upon the needles beneath the needle beards thereof, means to introduce beneath the beards of the needles a base web knitting yarn, means succeeding the introduction of the base knitting yarn to introduce a terry looping yarn from externally of the. circular line of needles in long prominently projecting terry loopsbetween the needles, and presser and cast off means to cast 0E from the needles the stitch loops of the base web above mentioned as positioned upon the needles together with terry looping yarn except beneath the beards of certain relatively spaced needles.

12. In combination a cylinder having a circular set of needles thereon, a base web fabric having stitch loops caught upon the needles, said needles being of the spring beard type, means to lower the stitch loops of the fabric caught upon the needles beneath the needle beards thereof, means to introduce beneath the beards of the needles a base web knitting yarn, means succeeding the introduction of the base knitting yarn to introduce a terry looping yarn from externally of the circular line of needles in long prominently projecting terry loops between the needles, presser and cast off means to cast off from the needles the knit loops of the base web above mentioned as positioned upon the needles together with terry looping yarn except beneath the beards of certain relatively spaced needles, means to introduce upon the needles at a location beneath the beards thereof and with the fabric held high upon the needles by the stitch yarn above mentioned a second terry looping yarn with long prominently projecting loops at the inner side of the circular line of needles, means to land said second terry looping yarn in the previously knitted fabric with the second terry looping yarn caught on a few relatively spaced needles beneath the beards thereof means to introduce a second knitting yarn at a location high upon the needles above all fabric and yarns caught upon said needles, and presser, landing, and cast-off means for operating on the previ ously applied yarns upon the needles to knit and associate the same with the last mentioned applied stitch yarns.

13. In combination with a knitting mathereon, sinker means for introducing a yarn upon the needles with loops projecting through the spaces between the needles to the opposite side of the line of needles from the location of the sinker means, a yieldable restraining pad at said side of the line of needles, means to normally hold and support said pad in position for receiving and restraining the loops of said yarns, and resilient means cooperating between the last mentioned means and pad and resiliently urging the pad in the direction of said needles and thereagainst.

15. In knitting machinery the combination of a circular rotary cylinder having a circular set of relatively spaced needles thereon, a sinker wheel rotatably supported at the outer peripheral line of said circular set of needles, said sinker wheel having nonradial slots therein sloping off radial relation with either the axes of rotation of the cylinder or wheel so that the outer ends of said slots first intersect a straight line intersectingthe axes of rotation of the wheel and cylinder during rotation, sinkers slidablein said slots, and means'o perating on the sinkers to introduce themin the spaces between the needles for the introduction of yarn in loops between theneedles and thereupon.

16, In knitting machinery the combination of a rotary cylinder, a united needle set on the rotary cylinder, a fabric lowering cam for lowering the fabric caught upon the needles to the lower parts of said needles, a succeeding weft yarn introducing wheel having means for introducing the weft yarn to the fore part'of alternate needles and the backs" of the remaining needles, a stitch wheel'for introducing a knitting yarn beneath the beards of the needles at a location above the fabric caught upon the needles and the weft introducing yarn, a sinker means for lan'ding upon the beards of said needles theterry looping yarn as applied to the needles with the terry looping yarn caught by a few certain relatively spaced "needles, and presser, landing and cast off means for" discharging all of said yarns caught upon the needle exceptthe stitch yarn introduced upon the needles as previously mentioned.

17. In a circular knitting machine the combination of a rotary cylinder having a united set of spring beard needles in circular arrangement thereon, means at the inside of the circular line of needles for lowering fabric held upon the needles low down upon the needles below the spring beards thereof, means for introducing from externally of the circular line of knitting needles while the fabric is thus held down upon the needles a first base web forming stitch yarn, means for introducing upon the needles while the fabric is thus held down upon the needles a terry looping yarn from externally of the circular line of needles at a location below the applied location of the first stitch yarn, with the terry yarn looping to the inside of the circular line of needles between the needles in long prominently extending loops, and means for elevating the fabric caught upon the needles, for pressing the beards of the needles and landing and casting 05 the yarn in a knitted and introduced relation upon the first stitch yarn with the loops of the terry yarn projected to the outside of the fabric as held upon the machine; means for introducing upon the needles from externally of the circular line of needles a second terry yarn in long prominently projecting loops at the inner side of the circular line of needles at a location below the location at which the fabric is held on the needles by the loops of the above mentioned first knitting yarn, means for elevating said second 'ter-ry looping yarn upon the needles beneath the beards of a few spaced needles and casting it over the tops to the rear of the remaining needles, means to lower the fabric upon the needles with the second terry looping yarn in the relation first mentioned with the terry loops of the second terry looping yarn projecting to the normal inside of the fabric caught upon the needles, means to introduce a second stitch yarn beneath the needles beards at a location above where the fabric is caught upon the needles, and means for casting off the fabric as caught upon the needles together with the portions of the second terry looping yarn caught upon the needles onto the second stitch yarn. 18. In a knitting machine the combination of arotatable cylinder having a united set of spring beard needles thereon with fabric held by stitch loops thereon, means for introducing upon the needles from externally of the circular line of needles a terry yarn in long prominently projecting loops at the inner side of the circular line of needles at a location below the location at which the fabric is held on the needles, means for elevating said terry looping yarn upon the needles ben a h t ar s of a few spaced needles and casting it over the tops to the rear of the remaining needles, means to lower the fabric upon the needles with the terry looping yarn in the relation mentioned with the terry loops of the terry looping yarn projecting to the normal inside of the fabric caught upon the needles, means to introduce a stitch yarn upon the needles at a location above here the fabric is caught upon the needles, means for casting off the fabric as caught upon the needles together with the portions of the terry looping yarn caught upon the needles onto the last mentioned stitch yarn.

HARRY MCADAMS. 

